Thursday, June 7, 2012

Grand old buildings that need protection

From the Maitland Mercury report:Progress and its threat to Maitland’s heritage is nothing new in a past scattered with ruins.
The tyranny of time on some of the city’s great dames has led to casualties complicated by a growing population.
Those neglected buildings could be at greater risk of demolition should the private members bill, Environment Planning and Assessment Amendment (Demolition Orders) 2012, introduced to state parliament on May 24, be enshrined in law.
The bill would allow councils to demolish buildings that had been left to go to ruin.
Debate was deferred by the government to a future date, making this a nervous time for heritage enthusiasts.
National Trust conservation manager Graham Quint said Maitland had 17 buildings that should be considered for State Heritage Register protection as a safeguard to any future laws.
“One of the problems is the lists aren’t complete; there are buildings that should be on the list but aren’t,” he said.
“There are only 1750 buildings on the state government register and an estimated 10,000 places that should be.”
Central Maitland properties featured prominently on Mr Quint’s list as well as buildings from the old government town of East Maitland.